Agitator



J. E. BOND Feb. l0, 1931.

AGITATOR Filed April s. 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 J. E. BOND Feb. 1019/31.

AGITATOR Filed April 8. 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Feb. 10, 1931 UNITED srars Aerraron Application filed April 8,

My invention relates to the art of paper making and particularly to means for agitating paper pulp.

The tanks or containers for the pulp are usually of great size and the tendency of the stored pulp is for the solids and the liquids to separate. The mixture should therefore be kept in constant motion, particularly when withdrawals are to be made therefrom. In

tanks of -substantial depth the level of liquid therein varies materially at dierent times, and the invention here vdisclosed relates to means for suitably agitating the liquid in an etcient manner, regardless of the height of material in the tank; for example, if the tank is only one-quarter to one-half full it is uneconomical to raise the liquid to the extreme height necessary when the tank -is full. The apparatus of my invention provides means for automatically accomplishing the desired result.

The invention will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation partly in section showing agitating apparatus arranged in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line l-l of Fig. 3.

In the drawings, I have illustrated a round tank or container having side walls 10. The

shape of the tank is of course immaterial as the same principle will be applied totanks of other shapes. A circulating pump is indicated at 11 having an outlet pipe 12, a portion 13 of which extends horizontally to a point near the far side of the tank where it communicates with a riser or well. The pipe composes the well, Vconsisting of sections 14;, 15, 16 of progressively smaller diameter. At the upper end of each pipe section, I provide a plurality of lateral extending pipes 17, 18, 19 which may for convenience be provided with distributing heads 2O as best shown in Fig. 2. Y Y

Assuming that the tank is only partly filled 5o with pulp, the pump will withdraw material 1929. Serial No. 353,566. p

throughthe inlet pipe 21 and raise it to the level of the lateral pipes 17 through the hea-ds of which it is discharged into the tank. I-Iowever, as the level of material rises in the tank due to additions the material will act on a float 22 loosely mounted on the pipe section 15 and tend to raise it. As shown in Fig. 3 a sleeve 23 is lit-ted loosely within the pipe section 14 and connected to the float by means of rods or straps 24 that extend downward in the space between the two pipe sections 14, 15. As the float is elevated, the sleeve is raised until it partially shuts off the delivery of material through the lateral pipes 17 thus compelling the elevating of the bulk of the material to the lateral pipe 18. Similarly, when the level is further raised, the float 25 is raised, thereby elevating `the sleeve 26 and shutting off the openings toy the pipes 18. This will require the elevation of the liquid to the upper pipes 19.

By means of this apparatus, it will be seen that the liquid need be elevated only in accordance with the level of the material within the tank, resulting ina substantial saving of power.

Other forms of float-controlled shut-off valves may be employed and other arrangements of distributing pipes may be employed and I do not wish tobe limited except as indicated in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In combination, a tank, a pumphaving an outlet, a vertical pipe connected to the outlet and having a lateral discharge opening at a point between its ends, and a float controlled valve adapted to close the lateral opening as the level rises in the tank and to require the raising of thel material to a higher level in the pipe.

2. In combination, a tank, a pump having an outlet, an upwardly extending pipe connected to said outlet, said pipe having lateral discharge openings at spaced intervals between the ends thereof, and a float-controlled valve in said pipe adapted to progressively close the lateral openings as the level rises in y said tank and to require the raising of the material to a higher level in said pipe.

3. In an agitator, the combination of a tank, a pump having an inlet communicating With a 10W point in the tank, and an outlet, a pipe connected to the outlet and extending to a point in the tank remote from the inlet to the pump, a vertical pipe connected to said outlet pipe, said vertical pipe having a lateral outlet at a point below its top and above the point of inlet to the pump, a ioat and a valve controlled by the ioat for restricting the discharge of material through said lateral outlet When the level of material inthe tank rises to a predetermined point. t

In testimony whereof I have afxed my signature.

JOSEPH E. BOND. 

